Disclaimer: do not own what is not mine :(

A/N: before i carry on with the next chapter, i would jus like to say THANK YOU to all of those who have been reading and reviewing my story. i love reviews, they make me want to write more!! criticism is welcome! and a huge thank you to chillipepper, all that glitters, bexxyboo, saturn567, & Mrs Fitzgerald for being consistent reviewers :D (i know there are probablhy more, but those are the ones i know off the top of my head!! lol)

Chapter 16

Flack sat with his mouth hanging open - he couldnt believe what was in front of him. Stella blushed as she and Adam got closer to the table, still clinging on to Adam's arm.

"Flack, close your mouth! Ya wanna catch flies?" Lindsey said, tapping his arm across the table. Lindsey was surprised, to say the least. Stella had said nothing to her about having a thing for Adam! She always thought that maybe one day Stella would end up with Flack, or even Mac. Not Adam!

"He-hey guys.." Adam said, the shyness in his voice made him feel uneasy. His Stepdad, still standing with James, beamed a smile from ear to ear. "Hi Dad."
"Adam! Im glad you finally made it! We thought you weren't coming!" Mayor Whittard exclaimed walking over to them and patting Adam on the back. "Stella got you here in one piece then huh?" Stella shook the Mayor's outstretched hand, and he planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Just about! " she replied, dropping Adam's arm. She made her way over to Lindsey and the fella's and took her seat.

Flack, only just closing his lips together, turned and looked at Stella. "Stella, is this for real?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Flack, it's just a date, just two co workers - friends, - joining each other on a night out!" Stella replied, as a waiter brought over another bottle of champagne to the table.

"Uh-huh.." Flack mumbled to himself. He downed the last of his champagne, and stood up, heading for the exit.

"Danny, go with him." Lindsey said, nodding her head towards Flack's direction. Danny stood up, reluctantly, and kissed her hand before leaving the table.

Lindsey smiled, and could feel herself getting hot as she felt his soft lips on her knuckles. She turned to Stella who was finishing her glass of champagne.

"So Stella, whats with the - "
"Linds, honestly, its nothing ok? Me and Adam are strictly friends. There is nothing going on. We both needed a date for tonight and thought why not go together. It made sense. " Stella cut Lindsey mid sentence, and poured her self another glass. "And what harm is it to make Flack jealous once in a while?" Stella winked as she lifted her glass to her lips.

"Stella! You mean you... Flack? .. But i thought you two were jus... ya know been there done that?" Lindsey exclaimed.

"Yeah i know, but the feeling is still there ya know. I know how Flack thinks, and if tonight gets him to open back up to me, then its all good!"

"Yo Flack.. wait... up!!" Danny said jogging up behind him. Flack was leaning on the fence that overlooked a beautiful dark lake that glittered with the reflection of the lights. With his head hanging down, he sighed. Why couldn't Danny jus leave me alone? He thought to himself.

"Danny, I'm fine. I jus needed to get out of there thats all." Flack said, rubbing his hands over his face.

"Come on Flack, something's bugging." Danny walked over and stood next to Flack. "I saw the way you were looking at Stella and Adam when they walked in. "
"I was jus surprised thats all Messer."
Danny looked out towards the lake, and sighed. "You still love her, don't you?" He pushed his glasses up on his nose.
Flack said nothing, and looked at the clear, dark sky. "Messer, its not - "

"I knew it!" Danny exclaimed quietly. "Why dont you jus tell her? it's not like there is any bad blood between you and Stel."

"Ok, Ok, Danny, I am pig sick that Stella brought Adam wit' her tonight.. i mean all she had to do was ask me and i would have taken her up on her offer." Flack cried, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.

"Well it works both ways buddy, you could have asked her to!" Danny chuckled, patting him on the back. " Hey look, why dont we jus go back on inside. It's getting cold now, lets jus go in, enjoy ourselves, and you can tell Stella how much you love her. "

"Oh no Messer!" Flack exclaimed. "Ill go in there but i am not telling her that!"

When Danny and Flack walked back in, the lights were off, and the DJ had started playing music already. During the time Danny and Flack had been outside, Mac had somehow slipped back in with a 'mystery' brunette and was dancing away with her on the dancefloor. Lindsey and Stella had moved from their table to the other side of the room and were having a gossip with a group of ladies from the lab.
"Well, come on Linds,' asked one of them, ' We are jus dying to know what you would rate him!"

"I think thats a bit er... i mean i - "
"10 of course!" Danny exclaimed as he snaked his hands around her waist.

"Danny!" Lindsey exclaimed, reaching a hand up behind her to rest on Danny's cheek. " How do you know we we're talking about you anyways?"

"It's what all you girls talk about when you're in a group like this. I've heard the things some of these girls talk about ya know!" he replied. He brushed his lips past her cheek and placed a gentle kiss behind her ear. "Come on, lets dance." He grabbed her hand and guided her to the dancefloor.
Stella was engrossed in some office gossip that they had started talking about to notice that Danny and Lindsey had sauntered off to the dance floor together. It was only when Flack coughed to get her attention that she looked up.

"Flack.. hey." She replied, standing up to face him. " You ok?"

"Hey Stel, listen we need to talk. " Flack said, shifting on his feet.

She smiled, knowing that what he was going to say to her was what she had been waiting to hear. "Sure, wanna go outside, or...?"

Flack didnt really wanna go back outside again seeing how cold it was, but if he was to be accompanied by stunning Stella, how could he refuse?

"Yeah sure." He smiled to himself as she walked past him leading the way. I cant believe im taking advice from Messer, here.

"So who's the mystery brunette with Mac?" Danny asked as he looked over in their direction.

"That, would be the new ME. Peyton Driscoll." Lindsey replied. "Mac was waiting for her to get here earlier when he left, and while you were outside, he came back and introduced us."

"Oh, i see.. so are they..?" Danny asked, pulling Lindsey closer as they swayed with the music.

"I guess so, but you know Mac, he likes to keep things to himself, and the odd bits with Stella." Lindsey replied "Speaking of Stella, Did you get anything outta Flack?"
"Only that he loves her." Danny shrugged.